THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
- Start date
fgl
Well-known member
fgl
Well-known member
Eduardo... set to play in Arsenal's next pre-season friendly
Eduardo hungry for starting place on Monday
Eduardo is set to make his pre-season bow on Monday at Szombathelyi Haladas.
In past few days rumours have started circulating that the Croatian striker had picked up an injury that would keep him sidelined for a couple of months.
This is not the case and today’s Austrian News Bulletin will carry footage of the 26-year-old hard in training on Wednesday afternoon.
“Eduardo should play on Monday,” confirmed Arsène Wenger after the 7-1 win at SC Columbia earlier this week.
fgl
Well-known member
Szombathelyi H.
Arsenal
- Bendtner 17, 43,
- Eduardo 24, 40,
- Van Persie 66 (pen)
Arsenal
- Vito Mannoe
(45) - Emmanuel Eboue
(45) - Armand Traore
(45) - Kolo Toure
(45) - Johan Djourou
(45) - Denilson
(45) - Aaron Ramsey
- Alex Song
(45) - Jack Wilshere
- Eduardo
- Nicklas Bendtner
(45) - Substitutes
- Wojciech Szczesny
(45) - Bacary Sagna
(45) - Mikael Silvestre
(45) - Thomas Vermaelen
(45) - William Gallas
(45) - Philippe Senderos
(45) - Robin Van Persie
(45) - Andrey Arshavin
(45)
- Rozsa Daniel
- Schimmer Sza Bolos
- Gazmics Richard
- Lengjel Damel
- Molnar Balazs
- Irhas Ignacz
- Iszlai Bence
- Totu Peter
- Simon Attila
- Oross Marton
- Nagy Gabor
- Substitutes
- Gocze Gergo
- Gsontos Zoltan
- Rafos Gabor
- Barbosa
- Simon Adan
By Richard Clarke in Szombathely
Eduardo celebrated his first pre-season appearance of the 2009/10 campaign with a classy brace as Arsenal brushed aside Szombathelyi Haladas 5-0 in Hungary on Monday night.
A few days earlier, it had been rumoured that the Croatian striker was injured and would miss the first two months of the season. However he seemed extremely fit and well this evening, firing home a low shot in the 24th minute and a free-kick five minutes before the break.
Nicklas Bendtner also poached a pair before the interval. The great Dane nodded in a delightful cross from Armand Traore in the 17th minute and slotted home a simple second, the fourth for his team, just before half time.
The flood of goals dried up somewhat after the interval but Robin van Persie did add to Arsenal's tally, scoring with a penalty in the 66th minute. He also had a late header ruled out.
Haladas did have a chance for some consolation from the penalty spot seven minutes from time but Brazilian defender Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only trickle the ball past the post.
It was a slightly comical end to a serious run-out for Arsenal and a very, very straightforward win.
It was a bright and breezy night in Western Hungary. The team coach made the winding, hour-long trip from the Club’s Austrian training carrying a team in good spirits.
It had been a week of tough-but-necessary double sessions in practice plus that notable 7-1 thumping of SC Columbia last Tuesday.
However while that side played in Austrian division four, Haladas had finished third in the Hungarian top flight last term and had won themselves a place in the Europa League.
Unfortunately for them, four days before this fixture the Rohonci úti Stadion had witnessed their exit from that competition to Elfsborg in the Third Qualifying Round. Despite that, this was still a significant increase in pre-season standard for Wenger’s side.
The opening stages were cagey. Haladas keeper Daniel Rozsa rushed out to deny Bendtner and, in the ninth minute, captain Peter Toth thumped the ball into the Arsenal net at the far post. However the whistle had long since blown for offside.
Keeper Vito Mannone nearly copied Manuel Almunia’s mistake at SC Columbia when his clearance was charged down by Marton Oross and flew a few yards wide of goal.
The Italian keeper had to rush out again in the 17th minute to deny two breakaway Haladas strikers. It was nearly an immediate response for the home side because, a few seconds earlier, they had fallen behind to the simplest of goals. Troare flew down the left and crossed for the unmarked Bendtner to steer home a header at the near post.
In the 24th minute, Arsenal doubled their advantage when Eduardo found some space in the corner of the area and drove home a low shot off the base of the far post.
Left back Toth seemed the most attacking outlet for the hosts and blasted over an effort shortly afterwards.
However, having barely extended themselves to create a 2-0 lead, Arsenal were playing well within themselves. Eduardo fired straight into the chest of Rozsa and, shortly afterwards, Bendtner would have headed home had he not collided with the Croatian in mid-air.
The duo would become much more cohesive as the end of the first half approached. First Bendtner was fouled five yards outside the area and Eduardo’s low free-kick crept inside the far post with keeper floundering. Then, two minutes from the whistle, Bendtner had time and space on the edge of the area to pick his spot. He chose to beat the keeper with shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Wenger made eight substitutions at the break. Only Jack Wilshere, Eduardo and Aaron Ramsey stayed on.
It seemed almost cruel bringing on a fresh Andrey Arshavin and Van Persie against a side already 4-0 down. Within a few minutes of the restart, the Dutchman had headed on to the top of the net and the Russian had blasted just wide.
In the 53rd minute, Wilshere got in on the act. The winger scooped a shot over the keeper and back off the bar. A cheeky effort.
Eduardo made way after 62 impressive minutes and Bendtner came back on. Five minutes later the 21-year-old was needlessly felled by Rozsa in the area and Van Persie scored with a perfect penalty into the top corner.
Wilshere nearly nudged home a delightful third but, with 15 minutes left, Haladas did at least threaten a goal. Something they had failed to do since the first quarter of an hour. Wojciech Szczesny pulled off fine double save from Norbert Lattenstein and Roland Ugrai then tipped over a free-kick from Szabolcs Schimmer.
Normal service was nearly resumed as Van Persie nodded home from Mikael Silvestre’s steepling cross 11 minutes from time. However his effort was ruled out.
Haladas should have troubled the scorers in the 83rd minute when Gallas was adjudged to have impeded Matel Skriba. However Barbosa slipped in his run-up and could only send the ball scuttling past the post.
Arsenal’s goal-hungry pre-season continues.
FEAR YE THE REST OF THE EPL!
fgl
Well-known member
better we sign up on day of 1st epl match ..
fgl
Well-known member
1
Maidenhead United
7
Arsenal
- St Amee 41
- Randall 49,
- Watt 61,
- Simpson 64,
- Sunu 73,
- Barazite 76,
- Freeman 79,
- Aneke 85
Arsenal
- James Shea
(46) - Luke Ayling
(67) - Thomas Cruise
- Francis Coquelin
- Rhema Obed
- Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
(7 - Mark Randall
(7 - Gilles Sunu
- Sanchez Watt
- Nacer Barazite
(7 - Jay Simpson
- Substitutes
- Conor Henderson
- Luke Freeman
(7 - Sean McDermott
(46) - Ignasi Miquel
(67) - Chuks Aneke
(7
The Gunners started brightly but their Blue Square South opponents took the lead just before the break when Kieron St Amee got the telling touch on a well worked free-kick.
But a different Arsenal emerged from the break to set about dismantling their lower-league opponents.
Mark Randall chipped home a superb equaliser five minutes after the break and Sanchez Watt handed the visitors the lead 10 minutes later.
Jay Simpson, Gilles Sunu and Nacer Barazite then all got in on the act before late substitutes Luke Freeman and Chuks Aneke completed the rout.
After a frustrating first half, the second period was a compendium of the sheer quality throughout Arsenal’s youth ranks.
There were two changes to the XI which faced Lincoln eight days ago. Randall, who played 45 minutes in the Gunners’ pre-season opener against Barnet, came into central midfield with Francis Coquelin filling in at right-back. Daniel Boateng missed out.
The other change came at centre-half with Rhema Obed, in for Ignasi Miquel, partnering Luke Ayling in defence. Once again Simpson and Barazite led the line with Sunu and Watt continuing on the flanks.
It was the former who forged the game’s first chance, surging towards goal to feed Simpson on the edge of the area. However, the striker’s fierce effort was brilliantly blocked. Then a minute later Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Randall’s midfield partner, waltzed past three challenges but thrashed his right-foot strike high and wide from a tight angle.
Although the Gunners were making most of the moves on the front foot, Maidenhead threatened on occasions. Midway through the first half the hosts won a flurry of corners but never really tested James Shea.
In the 25th minute Emmanuel-Thomas struck a post from 20 yards before Maidenhead created the game’s first genuine chance.
Lively left-winger Dean Mason picked out the unmarked Alex Wall with a fizzing cross. However, with the whole goal to aim at, the striker flashed his header wide from eight yards out.
Arsenal struck the woodwork again when Simpson crashed a curling 25-yard effort against the angle six minutes before the break. But, just over a minute later, Maidenhead were ahead.
Aryan Tajbakhsh, perhaps the hosts’ best player on the night, whipped a superb free-kick into the danger area and Kieron St Amee chested the ball past Shea from six yards. The half had been equal but it was difficult to begrudge the home side their lead.
Unsurprisingly the goal provided Maidenhead with a massive confidence boost and they started the second period with something of a swagger. But Arsenal would not be denied for much longer.
Five minutes after the break, Coquelin bustled into the centre circle before releasing Randall with a perfectly weighted through-ball. Without breaking stride the 19-year-old lifted an exquisite chip over the stranded Chris Tardif from all of 20 yards. With 11 first team appearances Randall was by far the most experienced Gunner on show and the finish was an emphatic reminder of his pedigree.
St Amee almost replied instantly with a long-range effort but Maidenhead were clearly starting to tire. And just after the hour-mark they were made to pay.
Emmanuel-Thomas was the architect this time, sliding Watt clear with a cute pass. The teenager controlled the ball effortlessly, skipped past the onrushing Tardif and rolled the ball into the unguarded net.
And it got worse for Maidenhead three minutes later when Simpson slammed home Arsenal’s third. The striker muscled into the area, spun away from the defender and fired a vicious strike through Tardif from 10 yards.
Sunu was next to get in on the act but needed two bites at the cherry to do so. The Frenchman, fresh from a terrific finish against Lincoln last time out, saw his initial effort clatter the post. However, after a neat touch on the chest, Sunu planted a low finish across Tardif and into the far corner .
Goal No 5 came within three minutes. This time, Watt seized upon Tardif’s weak clearance and rolled a low cross to the waiting Barazite who made no mistake from two yards.
Arsenal made a treble change in the 78th minute and one of the substitutes made an instant impact. With his first touch from the bench, Freeman controlled a high hanging through-ball and with his second, he rolled a neat finish under the advancing keeper.
Freeman turned provider five minutes from time, setting up fellow substitute Aneke. The towering attacker collected Freeman’s rolling cross and steered an angled strike into the bottom corner for No 7.
It could have been more in the closing stages but Arsenal had to settle for seven. But, after trailing at the interval, the Gunners will be delighted with their second-half haul.
dioswkg
New member
City agree fee with Arsenal for Toure
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed Kolo Toure could be on his way to Manchester City as the clubs haggle over a fee for the Ivorian.
Another 1 bite the dust.
Shitty look stronger with every signing but too many star players will only spell doomed for the manager.
extremers
New member
i really hope man shitty's gonna flop real bad.
fgl
Well-known member
0
Hannover 96
1
Arsenal
- Fabregas 8
Arsenal
- Vito Mannone
(46) - Thomas Vermaelen
- William Gallas
(46) - Alex Song
- Armand Traore
(34) - Denilson
- Emmanuel Eboue
- Andrey Arshavin
- Cesc Fabregas (c)
(46) - Nicklas Bendtner
(46) - Robin Van Persie
(69) - Substitutes
- Wojciech Szczesny
(46) - Bacary Sagna
(46) - Johan Djourou
(46) - Aaron Ramsey
(46) - Mikael Silvestre
(34) - Eduardo
(69)
- Robert Enke (c)
- Steven Cherundolo
(74) - Mike Hanke
- Arnold Bruggink
- Hanno Balitsch
- Christian Schulz
- Jacek Krzynowek
(62) - Karim Haggui
- Jan Rosenthal
- Cuevas
(46) - Konstantin Rausch
- Substitutes
- Florian Fromlowitz
- Vinicius Bergantin
- Sergio Pinto
- Constant Djakpa
- Michael Tarnat
(74) - Valdet Rama
- Jiri Stajner
(46) - Leon Balogun
- Mikael Forssel
(62) - Manuel Schmiedebach
(62)
- Attendance
31,412
By Richard Clarke in Hannover
Having said ‘auf wiedersehen’ to Austria, Arsenal made a stopover in Hannover on the way home and picked up another welcome pre-season win.
Wednesday’s 1-0 victory at the Bundesliga side came courtesy of a gorgeous goal from Cesc Fabregas in the ninth minute.
This was the toughest and closest game of Arsenal’s early campaign in season 2009/10 but Arsène Wenger’s side were always in control.
They got the early goal and then seemed happy to play neat, tidy but slightly constrained football. It was more than enough on the night.
Still, the win capped off a busy and productive training camp near Graz. The squad now fly back to England and their immediate target is to try and regain the Emirates Cup this weekend.
The news before kick-off was not about Wenger’s team selection but the much-anticipated transfer of Kolo Toure to Manchester City.
The Ivorian’s departure leaves William Gallas and Thomas Vermaelen as the most likely first-choice centre back pairing. Therefore perhaps it was indicative that these two started tonight’s game in tandem.
Interestingly, Wenger – who, for some reason, was given an armchair to watch the game from at pitchside - began with a 4-3-3 formation. Fabregas, Denilson and Alex Song were strung across the midfield. Robin van Persie was the central point of a wide front three with Andrey Arshavin left and Nicklas Bendtner right.
Hannover’s impressive AMD Arena was just under two-thirds full on a sweltering night in northern Germany. The Reds had been a mid-table Bundesliga side since winning promotion to the top flight six years ago.
Supposedly there was a little more optimism around this season and, given that Dieter Hecking’s side kick-off their campaign at Hertha Berlin next Saturday, you would have expected them to be a little sharper than Arsenal this evening. However that was not the case early on.
Hannover had the first real chance in the seventh minute when Jan Rosenthal reached the byline and cut the ball back to Nelson Cuevas just outside the area. The Paraguayan’s first-time effort sailed horribly high over the bar.
Arsenal would reply in exquisite fashion a couple of minutes later. Van Persie spotted Fabregas darting into the area and found him with the most perceptive of reverse passes. Once the Spaniard had nudged the ball away from the onrushing keeper all he had to do was gather himself and tuck a shot inside the near post.
Arshavin should have doubled the advantage shortly afterwards but his angled shot was beaten away by keeper Robert Enke. Hannover threatened from set-pieces after that but would muster nothing of consequence for the remainder of the half.
Armand Traore made way for Mikael Silvestre in the 33rd minute. The younger Frenchman had presumably picked up a knock but nothing was obvious.
In truth this was becoming pretty listless pre-season fare. Arsenal were the superior technical side but seemed happy playing in third gear. They upped the rev count shortly before the interval and were nearly rewarded with a second goal.
In the 43rd minute, Van Persie’s drive was blocked by the sliding Cuevas at the near post. Bendtner met the resultant corner with a firm header but Jacek Krzynowek booted the ball off the line. The clearance was fed back to Van Persie on the right however his low cross was diverted wide by Enke.
At half-time Wenger replaced William Gallas, Bendtner, Fabregas, and Vito Mannone with Wojciech Szczesny, Johan Djourou, Aaron Ramsey and Bacary Sagna.
Hannover nearly got back on level terms in the opening seconds. Rosenthal whipped in a cross from the right and Ramsey’s clearing header flew a few feet wide of his own goal.
Just past the hour, Mike Henke broke clear for a second before being caught and smothered by a swathe of white shirts. Vermaelen took his tackling a little too far and gave away a free-kick 30 yards out. Sergio Pinto sent it just wide.
Eduardo replaced Van Persie midway through the second half. It was a surprise given that the Croatian had not been named on the pre-match team-sheet.
Szczesny was tested a couple of times after that. Firstly he batted aside a long-range drive then he held Pinto’s cross at the second attempt.
However Hannover direct approach was effectively neutralised by the Arsenal back four.
This was a straight-forward performance and straight-forward win.
Now Arsenal are heading back to Emirates Stadium.
fgl
Well-known member
Kolo Toure signs for Manchester City
http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=cmp&cid=38&AFF_ID=1264
Kolo Toure has today signed for Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.
Toure (28), who joined Arsenal from Ivorian side Asec Mimosas in February 2002, made a total of 326 appearances for the Gunners, being a regular in the first team over the past seven seasons.
During his time with Arsenal, Kolo won the FA Cup in both 2003 and 2005, and was part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad who won the 2003/04 Premier League, going the entire season unbeaten.
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Kolo the best of luck for the future.
http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=cmp&cid=38&AFF_ID=1264
Kolo Toure has today signed for Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.
Toure (28), who joined Arsenal from Ivorian side Asec Mimosas in February 2002, made a total of 326 appearances for the Gunners, being a regular in the first team over the past seven seasons.
During his time with Arsenal, Kolo won the FA Cup in both 2003 and 2005, and was part of the ‘Invincibles’ squad who won the 2003/04 Premier League, going the entire season unbeaten.
Everyone at Arsenal Football Club wishes Kolo the best of luck for the future.
fgl
Well-known member
i watched them outplay hannover last night - I'm not unduly worried at the departures ....
seriously_ for AFC to be title or CL contenders - I can't comment for now ....unless more signings are made
